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From the moment he saw her pink face for the first time, King Tom loved his daughter with all of his heart. As she kicked and screamed and flailed in his arms, he swore that nothing- not his kingdom, riches, or his life- mattered more than the tiny bundle in his arms.
But then his wife uttered one word, “Marinette” and his whole world changed to make Marinette the center of it.
He would do anything for her.
No matter what.
Her first birthday was a celebration and day of resting for the whole kingdom. There were parties in the street and toasts raised to the future queen and her well being.
In the castle, the king and queen had an intimate family celebration where they laughed and hugged and ate cake.
Tom would never forget the sight of his tiny daughter covered and grinning with only two teeth to her name.
At five, Marinette was already growing into her own person. She was clever, brave, smart, and independent. Her attendants were always on their feet, wondering where she would go next and what she would do. Unfortunately for them, the answer to that question most of the time was trip.
Marinette was the clumsiest royal any of the servants had ever seen.
And they loved her so very much.
She was the definition of creativity. Drawing on papers and long walls, mixing paints and splattering it everywhere as she looked for things to make. Creating things that made those around her question if she were really only five or if she were a prodigy. They whispered about how she could be the next great artist or inventor.
Tom honestly didn’t care. All he saw was his happy little girl who painted silly pictures of his mustache all over the place.
When Marinette had asked him if it was okay that she liked to draw and invent instead of the other more womanly tasks of reading and writing, he had pulled her in close and told her words that would stick with her forever.
“Follow your heart: it’ll never steer you wrong.”
At ten, Marinette also showed promise in baking. She enjoyed going into the servants quarters and baking them bread, cookies, and other delightful treats that had them fawning over her.
Likewise, the people of the kingdom loved her.
Despite his warnings, she had wanted to start taking strolls through the town and he could not deny her this freedom, especially when she agreed to take her attendants and a guard with her.
Her very first stroll led her to an orphanage where she had spent most of the day playing with the other kids and baking them the sweetest treats, even going as far as to send her attendants out for more supplies when she’d found that there were barely any. When she had returned to the castle, she had demanded that her father send more supplies- food and whatever was needed- to all the orphanages in the kingdom.
“It isn’t fair that we have so much and they go without.”
The moment he heard those words leave her mouth, Tom knew she would be an amazing and loved queen.
But this led him to also start thinking about the king she would need by her side…
When she turned twelve, King Tom had two potential matches he thought would suit his beloved princess.
The first was Adrien Agreste. He’d met the lad at a Peace table talk with all of the surrounding kingdoms. He’d been shadowing his father, King Gabriel, and watching as the meeting progressed. Tom liked how the young man seemed to be incredibly bright and poised for his age. He carried himself with a grace most didn’t obtain until they were at their majority. He also seemed very reserved, not really speaking to any of the other princes or princesses who were present, even though the look in his eyes said he sorely wanted to.
When Tom approached King Gabriel, the boy looked politely interested and Tom had no doubt that he’d been receiving lessons on proper edicate. Tom wasn’t too big a fan of that look on children, so after making the expected small talk with Gabriel, he knelt in front of the child.
“Hi there. I’m King Tom. What’s your name?”
The boy looked up to his dad and only spoke after receiving approval. “Good evening, your highness. I’m Prince Adrien.”
“Prince Adrien. It’s so nice to meet you! How old are you?”
“Ten.”
“Ten is such a good age. Can I ask you a random question?”
“Of course.”
“What’s your favorite baked treat?”
The prince was obviously confused but answered anyway. “I like croissants.”
Tom nodded and stood. “King Gabriel. I would like to invite you and your family to my castle. I have a daughter and I would love to see how well the two of them get on.”
Surprised, the older blonde nodded. “Of course. I will speak with my wife and see what she has to say.”
The second was Luka Couffaine. He’d met this young man at the same meeting as the young Agreste. However, it was in a very different manner.
Tom had gone to look for his regent when the song of music drifted to his ears. Curious, he had followed his ears to a nearby study. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see a young child with startling blue hair- how had he’d gotten it that color?- playing a harp. He was amazed that such amazing playing was being done by a child who looked barely older than his own.
He stood by and watched quietly as he plucked the strings until the song concluded. Then he clapped. The young boy jumped before hastily standing and bowing.
“Your highness!”
“No need for that son. You play fairly well!”
The young boy smiled proudly. “I have been taking lessons from my ma and pa who are both players.”
“Are your ma and pa here today?”
“Yes, sir. They’re in the meeting with the other royals.”
“Who are they?”
“King Jagged and Queen Anarka.”
Ah. Tom had met them already and he loved their energy and untraditional way of talk and actions. He knew that they also had a daughter.
“What’s your name?”
“Prince Luka, your highness.”
“Thank you. You’re very talented! Keep practicing.” The boy nodded.
Mind whirring, Tom bid him farewell and went to find his parents. When he did, they both embraced him with big hugs.
“Tom, my man. How do ya doeth on this fine day?”
The smile on Tom’s face was genuine. “Just great. I just met young Luka and I would like to invite you and your family over to see how well he gets on with my daughter.”
The king and queen shared a look before nodding. “ Right on.”
A month later, the three sets of royals watched on as the four children played together in the courtyard of Tom’s home. Seeing his child’s wide smile, he knew that one of these boys would be the best fit for her.
“They seem to get along quite well.” Gabriel remarked and the other parents agreed. “So would we like to make a match?”
“Sure.”
The parents sat around and hashed out details of all the arrangements. Marinette would be betrothed to Luka while Adrien would be betrothed to the Stone’s daughter, Juleka. When all married, there would be a lasting treaty between all three of their kingdoms. Quarterly, the children would be brought together so that they could prepare and get to know one another better and all get the chance to explore their new homes as they grew instead of being thrown into upon their marriage.
“What about the kingdom left without a ruling pair?” Emilie asked as the ink dried on the document.
Anarka tapped her chin before grinning. “Ow bout the first born o’ one of the couples become heir to our kingdom since both of our spawns are involved?”
This seemed the best fix and they took about drawing straws to determine which kingdom it would be.
“How… unfortunate.” Gabriel said as he looked at the smallest twig in his wife’s hand. “But we will abide by it. When Prince Adrien and Princess Juleka bear their first child, that child will become the heir to the Stone Kingdom.”
The royals nodded in agreement as the ink dried and children’s laughter filled the air.
As the years passed, King Tom had felt good about their arrangements. All the children seem to get along very nicely. Marinette and Luka seemed to grow closer with each passing season as Juleka and Adrien seemed to quietly enjoy each other’s company.
He never questioned their decision… until the day of their daughter’s sixteenth birthday. They had thrown a huge party and invited the neighboring kingdom. Marinette had glowed as never before as she received well wishes from other royalty and those from their own kingdom alike.
Towards the middle of the party when it was almost time to sit for the feast, Tom had noticed his princess was missing. Worried, he searched the castle for her only to find her on the balcony of her room, talking with Adrien. Relieved, he went to bring her in when he saw them kiss, a short sweet thing that reeked of young love and sadness.
Unsure of what to do, Tom had left them be. They’d returned to the party moments after him as if nothing had happened, but, for Tom, things had certainly changed.
Had he made the wrong decision? Had he cheated his daughter out of her happiness? Luka had grown into and was an amazing man, but did his daughter not love him? Was she longing to be with Adrien?
That night he’d spoken to his wife who had assured him that everything would work out. “Life likes to let us think we’re in charge, making the big decisions, but it always finds a way of showing us that control is an illusion.”
Tom hadn’t understood what she meant…
…until the day after their daughter’s eighteenth birthday.
When walking around the grounds, he’d heard voices floating over from the conservatory. Walking over, he recognized his daughter’s voice.
“I love you. That will never change. My parents, your parents, our subjects will understand.”
Prince Adrien’s voice answered. “But my father-”
“Doesn’t matter. You can live with us here. I’m sure my papa and maman will be over the moon to have you, even if we have to explain everything.”
“But-”
“No more buts, Adrien.” A voice Tom hadn’t expected interrupted. “Marinette’s right. We love you and now that we have all reached our majority, we can be together. If our parents don’t understand, we can all run away together. Whether we’re poor or rich, royalty or common folks, all that matters is that we’re together.”
“Luka… how can you be so sure? How can either of you be sure?”
Marinette was the one who answered. "Because we’re listening to our hearts: they won’t ever steer us wrong. So, as my father said: follow you heart. What does it want?”
"You. It wants both of you."
It was then that Tom realized his wife had been absolutely right: it was never a decision they had to make.
So when Marinette, Luka, and Adrien approached King Tom and Queen Sabine the next day about letting Adrien move into their home, they welcomed him in with open arms.
And later, when the three revealed that they were deeply in love with one another and wanted to be together, Tom could only hold his daughter- the little girl he watched be brought into this world and who wanted to make sure everyone was fed- and smile at the woman she had become.
“You’re not mad at me, Papa?” She questioned from inside of his embrace.
Tom shook his head as tears stung his eyes. “How could I ever be mad at you when you have done what I told you to do? You followed your heart.”
And when Marinette delivered the news that her and her husbands were expecting a year and a half later, Tom followed the instructions of his own heart and did as he had done the day of their wedding many moons before: he wept.
He joyfully wept as his whole world changed again.